Real Madrid visits Valencia to continue chasing the summit

Real Madrid will visit Valencia at the historic Mestalla Stadium on Saturday in the 12th round of the Spanish football league, with the hosts aiming to continue their chase for the top spot, while the home side seeks a victory to distance themselves from the relegation zone.

Real Madrid enters the match in third place with 27 points, three points behind leaders and rivals Barcelona. Meanwhile, Valencia is struggling this season, sitting in 19th place with just nine points.

The match holds special significance for Valencia fans, as it is one of the last major fixtures to be played at Mestalla, which is staging its final season according to club plans, before the team moves to its new stadium, Nuevo Mestalla, scheduled to open in the summer of 2027.

Valencia enters the clash amid a decline in results this season, sitting in second-from-bottom position after securing only one win in their last five matches, increasing pressure on the team to escape the relegation zone.

In contrast, Real Madrid aims to maintain their positive form and secure their eighth consecutive victory across all competitions, following their 2-1 win over rivals Barcelona in El Clásico, a 3-0 away victory against Racing Santander in the league, and a 3-2 win over Greek side AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League.